Summary
Syrian-born religious and nationalist organiser in Haifa whose armed movement of 12-19 November 1935 Kanafani treats as the real start and turning point of the 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine.
Details
- Kanafani states that all the sources he cites rightly believe the Qassamist rising sparked off by al-Qassam was the real start of the 1936 revolt, and that his movement represented a turning point in the nationalist struggle (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.18 / printed p.35; PDF p.19 / printed p.37).
- He was born in Jabala on the periphery of Latakia, studied at Al-Azhar, took part in the Syrian revolt against the French at Jabal Horan in 1919-1920 and was condemned to death, and came to Haifa in 1921 with Sheikh Muhammad al-Hanafi and Sheikh Ali al-Hajj Abid, immediately forming secret groups (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.19 / printed p.37).
- Kanafani credits him with advanced organisational intelligence and patience: in 1929 he refused to be rushed into announcing he was under arms, despite a split in the organisation (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.19 / printed p.37).
- His programme, as reported by a Qassamist cited by Subhi Yasin, ran in stages: psychological preparation and dissemination of a revolutionary spirit, secret groups and functional committees, then armed revolt (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.19-20 / printed p.37-38).
- He went out to the Ya’bad hills with 25 men on the night of 12 November 1935 to spread the call for revolt rather than declare it, was discovered by accident, and was killed by a British force after adopting the slogan Die as Martyrs; the masses followed his body 10 kilometres on foot to Yajur (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.20 / printed p.38).
- Before going into the hills he had asked Amin al-Hussaini, through Sheikh Musa al-Azrawi, to coordinate declarations of revolt throughout the country, and was refused on the ground that conditions were not yet ripe (The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, PDF p.20 / printed p.38).
Related pages
The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine, Amin al-Hussaini, Peasant Revolt